Using one of the most famous works in classical music—Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony—here is the perfect way to introduce a young child to the world of classical music. This charming and interactive picture book with its panel of 19 sound buttons is like a ticket to a concert hall, taking readers on a journey from the exciting first moment when the musicians begin tuning up to the end of the first movement (attention newcomers: don’t clap yet!). At each step of the way, readers learn the basics of classical music and the orchestra: What is a conductor? What is a symphony? Who was Beethoven? The different aspects of music: melody, harmony, tempo, theme. And the families of instruments—strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

But the best part is that every critical idea is illustrated in gorgeous sound. The sound panel allows readers to hear the different parts of the symphony and voices of the music—the famous beginning of the Fifth, what a clarinet sounds like, the difference between a violin and a viola, what a melody is, and what harmony is. Kids will want to match their voices to the A note that tunes the orchestra, dance to the rhythmic passages—and, of course, sing along to da-da-da-daah!

About Carolyn Sloan

Carolyn Sloan is a music educator at the Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, New York, and the author of Finding Your Voice: A Practical and Spiritual Approach to Singing and Living. A songwriter and musician, she has been writing music for theater, television, and children for the past 20 years. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.

About James Williamson

James Williamson is an illustrator, designer, and artist whose work has appeared in The New York Times and numerous children's books. He lives with his wife in Brooklyn, New York.